Ekeberg Camping, Oslo, Norway - Tuesday, 9 August

Geoff
This morning after breakfast, we took the free park and ride bus into Strömstad. We liked the place very much. The weather helped, as it always does. It is a coastal town with a large marina and ferries to take visitors to neighbouring islands. These islands can be seen from the harbour side. While there, we went into a cafe/bar for coffee/hot chocolate and pastries.

We changed our original plan of maybe staying here for a second night. The minimal facilities encouraged us to move on. We decided to go straight to Oslo, about 80 miles away. There is a toll plaza at the border but this wasn't operating and an overhead sign told us not to stop. Instead, we were channelled off the E6 to an area where border officials were possibly carrying out random checks. We weren't stopped and rejoined the E6.

There are two camper stops in Oslo. One is free with no facilities at all. The other is at a marina with basic facilities and 250 spaces. We upgraded ourselves and are at Ekeberg Camping, a large camp site only a mile or so outside the city centre with some 800 spaces. Imagine something like that close to the middle of London! All the pitches we have seen are on grass, which has the potential for trouble, especially as it has been raining most of the time we have been here. We have booked for two nights. The loos, showers, etc. are excellent and haven't seemed over used at all, far from it.

Tomorrow, we catch the bus into the city to sort out the things we want to do here. There is Norway in a Nutshell and the Kon-Tiki Museum. In one of the galleries is the original of Edvard Munch's "The Scream". Apparently, in the cafe there, you can buy a pastry or cake based on it. Might give that a miss.

Amanda

Woke up feeling a bit subdued this morning for the first time. Maybe just having been away for three weeks, although I'm not conscious of feeling homesick. Definitely missing hot water! And there has been quite a lot of rain in between the sunny spells. The thought of one loo shared with 20 other campervans was not thrilling, either!

However the free bus arrived to take us into Strömstad and the sun, clear blue skies and even the strong wind lifted the spirits no end. The place is a rather smart and very attractive spa resort which apparently calls itself a city even though the population is about the same as Chipping Norton. We treated ourselves to hot chocolate and cakes at a harbour side cafe, inspected some fish stalls but didn't buy, and then in the last few minutes waiting for the bus back popped into a supermarket and were assailed by the smell of roasting chicken - just what I have been fancying for the last few days but have not found on the supermarket shelves. So, supper sorted.

Off we set to Oslo, having decided to change our plan to try out the marine Camperstop which takes 250 campervans and make for a campsite instead. This site at Ekeberg is amazing. You can't book ahead and it has the feel of a festival site about it. This is possibly because of the mud - it is still raining now. The facilities are excellent, and after a hot shower I am definitely feeling more human.
There are views over Oslo from the site, and a bus runs into the city from just outside every 15 minutes from 6am to midnight. It is by far the most expensive site we have ever come across, but the location couldn't be more convenient.

We have discovered that automatic tolls operate in Norway. It seems that foreign vehicles are automatically photographed as they go through the toll points and we can expect to receive an invoice sometime to our home address. I have spent some time online this afternoon trying to find out more. The complications of registering to pay up front are a bit daunting when you have only limited internet access. We think we will just let it take its course and hope we don't end up with fines for belated payment. We will only be driving in the country on two days and over quite short distances.
It has now been raining solidly for several hours - it is 9 o'clock - and is feeling decidedly chilly. G has even put the heater on!  An early night is called for.